It is quite easy for the most scientifically ignorant to read Genesis (or Job, or whatever) and simply believe that God knows how to communicate clearly and that He did so. I am ashamed that I did not have this simple, child-like faith from the first.
I do think that the discussions about Genesis and science, however, are good for those who are concerned that the two contradict each other. We are raised in a secular society and most of us go to public schools where we learn all about evolution and long ages. I seriously cannot count the number of college students who have fallen away from their childhood faith for this reason.
So discussions about the actual data and whether or not it supports Genesis are imperative for some. Knowing that we can trust the Bible to say what it means and mean what it says is pretty important to a lot of people.
For me, as someone involved in science, it is also terribly exciting to see that we do not need to call what is written as eyewitness history, as Genesis is, 'metaphor' so we can feel comfortable with it in light of today's
'scientific' understandings.
I used to think it was metaphor. Now I know better -- the same way the children do!
But no, it is not necessary to have any scientific understanding at all to believe God's Word!
But when you do have some scientific understanding, there are new depths which are exciting to those of us with that sort of liking!